8 June 2019
We were so pleased with the charter booking from the initial emails inquiring about dates available to the last minute questions and timely responses as we prepared to head to Scotland. Emma is professional, kind, and prompt in responding by email. We appreciate good customer service and yours is excellent. Since this was our second cruise with Skipper James and the Emma Jane, we knew what to expect about anchorages and visiting the islands. However, this cruise exceeded any expectations we had. We enjoyed returning to some islands we had previously visited and seeing new places. We continue to be overwhelmed by our visit to St. Kilda (thank you, Skipper James!) and seeing the many, many species and numbers of birds throughout the cruise that were not around in these numbers in September 2017. James knows much about all aspects of the Hebrides; if he doesn’t know an answer, he says that he doesn’t know. I like that. Will was knowledgeable about cetaceans, birds, plants, and extremely helpful to those of us who decided to take some of the walks that included narrow and muddy trails with steep inclines. He was available to offer a hand or arm to steady us as we hiked up and down the hills. Anchoring in protected areas overnight is an extraordinary experience—the quiet, the skies, the gentle rocking of the vessel. All ten of us on this charter live on bodies of water—bays, lakes, ocean. Anchoring in coves next to small villages or near an unpopulated island is special. The cruise was extra special. We were made to feel welcomed back and our friends from New Hampshire were thrilled with their experiences seeing the Hebrides and the wildlife, scenery, remoteness, and the comfort of the Emma Jane.
Angela & David Hiley
I am actually struggling to find the words to express how wonderful this holiday was and how much we enjoyed ourselves during our 6 nights on Emma Jane. This experience was truely like no other holiday I've ever taken. It was well put together and the crew were ready to adapt plans where necessary. Firstly thanks to Emma for her initial assistance when we were making the decision to book or not, and invaluable help on travel advice. Whether we were lucky, but we joined a lovely group of fellow, like minded passengers to spend our 6 nights with. All the crew, Chris, the skipper, Sofia, the steward, Carlton, the chef, and Will the wildlife expert, were individually lovely, helpful, patient, and excellent in their roles. However, the four of them together formed a competent and well organised team. I noted the concentration required to navigate us through the locks, and attention to our safety and enjoyment at all times. The food was amazing Carlton. Hard to pick my favourite dish but the Caesar salad was a stand out. Will, took us on lovely walks to enjoy beautiful scenery, rivers, locks, lochs, canal, waterfalls, birds and fungi. Chris, calm, caring and confident, but firm if he needed to be. We must, however, mention Sofia in particular. Her attention to detail, demonstration of a variety of skills, one moment doing the ropes on the vessel, the next serving us tea, cake, and Proscecco in the afternoon(could get used to this but things are never the same when you try to re-create them at home). Her flair in creating the most wonderful table decorations. We could go on. We loved it. Thank you so very much. Cindy Hudson & Andrew Perry
Cindy Hudson: 23 September 2023Loch Linnhe, the Caledonian Canal & Loch Ness